Key Takeaways:
- The White House plans to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado, a key weather and climate research center.
- The decision has been met with criticism from experts, who say it could jeopardize the accuracy of forecasting and prediction systems.
- NCAR has made significant contributions to weather and climate science, including the development of dropsondes and the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF).
- The closure of NCAR could have long-term consequences for the scientific community’s ability to understand and predict weather and climate patterns.
- The decision is seen as a political move by the Trump administration, which has been criticized for its handling of climate change and science.
Introduction to the Controversy
The White House has announced plans to break up the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Colorado, a move that has been met with widespread criticism from experts in the field. NCAR is a key weather and climate research center that has been providing universities with expertise and resources for collaborative research on global weather, water, and climate challenges for over six decades. The decision to dismantle the center has been seen as a political move by the Trump administration, which has been criticized for its handling of climate change and science.
The Role of NCAR in Weather and Climate Science
NCAR plays a critical role in the development of weather and climate models, including the Weather Research and Forecasting Model (WRF) and the Community Earth Systems Model (CESM). These models are used by scientists around the world to predict everything from thunderstorms to large-scale systems, including hurricanes and frontal systems. NCAR’s research has also contributed to decades without passenger plane crashes caused by wind shear or downbursts. The center’s work has been instrumental in improving weather forecasting and prediction systems, and its closure could have significant consequences for the scientific community’s ability to understand and predict weather and climate patterns.
The Political Backlash
The decision to break up NCAR has been met with criticism from politicians and experts alike. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, has stated that the plan puts public safety at risk and attacks science. Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat whose district includes Boulder, have suggested that the proposed NCAR closure amounts to political brinkmanship by the White House in response to Colorado’s refusal to release Tina Peters, a former Mesa County clerk who is serving a nine-year prison sentence for illegally accessing voting machines. The White House has denied that the decision is related to Peters, but the timing of the announcement has raised suspicions.
The Impact on the Scientific Community
The closure of NCAR could have significant consequences for the scientific community’s ability to understand and predict weather and climate patterns. NCAR provides its members with cutting-edge computing resources, observational resources, and scientific expertise, which no university can provide on its own. The center’s research has been instrumental in improving weather forecasting and prediction systems, and its closure could slowly erode the scientific community’s ability to make further progress on understanding weather and climate. Jason Furtado, an associate professor of meteorology at the University of Oklahoma, has stated that his research and that of many other scientists would simply not be possible without the Boulder center.
The Trump Administration’s Record on Climate Change and Science
The Trump administration has been criticized for its handling of climate change and science. In April, the administration dismissed scientists working on the country’s flagship climate report and then removed the report from a government website. In 2019, Trump landed himself in a scandal known as "Sharpiegate," in which he contradicted official National Weather Service forecasts for Hurricane Dorian by insisting the storm directly threatened Alabama. The administration has also proposed cutting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) budget by about 27% and eliminating NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the agency’s core climate and weather research branch.
Conclusion
The decision to break up NCAR is a concerning development that could have significant consequences for the scientific community’s ability to understand and predict weather and climate patterns. The closure of the center could slowly erode the scientific community’s ability to make further progress on understanding weather and climate, and could put lives and property at risk. The Trump administration’s record on climate change and science has been widely criticized, and the decision to dismantle NCAR is seen as a political move that prioritizes ideology over science. As the scientific community continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, it is essential that we prioritize science and research over politics and ideology.